The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-09-29
III PUMP SNAKE.
A Reptile who Is Of Great Use In D"-
kota, They Say.

R~ptiIe Who Is Of Great Use In D"-
kota. They Say.
In central Dakota, on the Missouri Dot
toms there exists one Of natures sfranges'
freaks The settlers term 1t the pump
snake How il came there or where 1t came
from is vet unknown. II first made Its ap-
pearance in Emmons county in the spring OF
1885. A full grown pump snake measures
about sixteen feet in length and about three
inches In diameter. They are Of gregarious
habits, roaming the p~rairies in large herds, as
many as 300 having been counted In a single
flock. In dissscting one OF these reptiles
there Is found a tube which extends from the
roof Of the jaw to the extremity OF the tail,
and terminating in an opening. This tube Is
about two inches In diameter, and lined with
a tough, yielding substance, similar to rub
Der. The pump snake is easily trained TO an
swer the call OF man. The inhabitants in
this section trap them in large numbers.
farmer on Cat Tail creek has q flock OF
twenty pump snakes trained 70 a remarkable
degree Of proficiency. At the blast OF a
whistle the snakes assemble on the banks OF
the creek. The leader there is always a
leader 20 a herd Of these snakes, who Is
elected by two-thirds majority dashes lnto
the water Of the creek, leaving only the ex-
tremity Of its tail on the bank. Another
snake Immediately grasps the end OF the
leaders tail in its jaws, a third snake taxes
hold Of the second snakes tail In a similar
manner, and SO on until there /: a continuous
line OF snakes Joined end on, extending to the
water troughs in the cattle yards, 800 feet
ava The leading snake to
swallow or pump the waters Of the creek,
which passes through the long line of snakes
as il would through a hose and falls IN a
heavy stream into the trough.
This agriculturist told Of an extraordinary
circumstance which occurred a short time
ago. While working in the field near his
home hs observed flames issuing from the
roof OF his barn. Wild with excitement he
hurried to the burning building, only 70 see
that it was a hopeless task for himself alone
10 attempt 10 e~xtinguish the flames. In
despair he gazed on the work Of destruction;
suddenly he heard a loud rustling in the tall
grass, whence issued his herd Of pump
snakes on the run. The leader hurled him
self into the creek, the rest instantly adjust
ing themselves, heads and tails, from the
creek 10 the burning building The last
snake, standing on its head, waved It's long
and flexible body, from the tail end Of which
issued a stream of water that was thrown
with terrific force on the burning building
Back and forth dashed the tail end Of that
living hose. squirting the water where 1t
would do the most good, while the loud
pumping Of the leader could be heard above
the roar of the coniagration. Within fifteen
minutes the last spark was out Then, and
not until then, did the pump snakes quit
work. They were completely exhausted, the
leader having tainted away. The main part
Of the building and its contents were saved,
thanks 10 tie presence Of mind Of these won
derful snakes.
The territorial government Is becoming
awakened to the extreme usefulness OF these
interesting creatures, and laws are 70 BE- en-
acted 70 protect the pump snake. Dakota
Cor. Chicago Inter Ocean.